Hanging sportsboard display and storage rack

ABSTRACT

A display and storage rack for sportsboards or other objects which is comprised of a backing of cloth or other lightweight pliable material which has sleeves of lightweight material which are sized and spaced to hold sportsboards or other similar objects. There are loop(s) on one or more edge of the backing which hold a batten of any rigid material which attach to wall mounts; or, alternatively, the loops may be attached directly to any secure support. In addition, storage pockets of any lightweight pliable material are attached to the backing, either permanently or in a manner so that they may be removed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefits of PPA #61/208,990 (confirmation #9020) filed on Mar. 3^(rd), 2009 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1) Field of Invention

This invention relates to hanging storage and display devices, most especially for multiple sportsboards.

2) Prior Art

Surfboards and other similar sports equipment, such as skateboards, wakeboards, and snowboards, are here referred to as sportsboards. Board sports have grown in popularity in recent years and their many enthusiasts often have several boards. These boards are often decorated with art that the owners wish to display.

Because of their large size, it is difficult to store and display sportsboards, and to simply place them on the floor unnecessarily takes up space; can be a hazard; and leaves them susceptible to damage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,079 to Roberts provides storage for sportsboards off the floor by a series of parallel brackets (referred to as rack units), but also creates several problems.

Each rack unit is individually attached to the wall. To mount numerous units can take a considerable amount of time and effort and results in numerous holes in the wall.

The brackets protrude perpendicularly from the wall, taking up room unnecessarily and being a possible hazard.

The sportsboards rest horizontally and thus do not display the design or art that is on their face.

The rack units are heavy, rigid and bulky, making them inconvenient to store or transport.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,135 to Thompson is a bracket which protrudes perpendicularly from a wall. It takes up room unnecessarily and is a possible hazard. It does not display the design or art that is on the sportsboard face and is heavy, rigid and bulky.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,671 to Doscher is comprised of two or more brackets which attach to a wall. This devise has all the shortcomings of the Roberts and Thompson devises. It can take conciderable time and effort to mount and result in numerous holes in a wall. It protrudes into a room, taking up space unnecessarily and being a possible hazard. It does not display the face of the sportsboard. It is heavy, bulky, and ridgid, making it inconvenient to store or transport.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,864 to Simonian, et. al. likewise has the shortcomings of Roberts, Thompson, and Doscher.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,116 to Mojica reduces the need for multiple brackets attached to a wall, but is still perpendicular from the wall, taking up room and being a possible cause of injury. It does not displace the face of the boards. It is also heavy, rigid and bulky and thus inconvenient to store or transport.

3) Objects and Advantages

Accordingly, the objects and advantages of this invention, the Hanging Sportsboard Display and Storage Rack, are: it is light, fold-able, malleable and easily transported; it displays the designs on the face of the boards; it doesn't protrude into a room; it requires miminal time and effort to install; it miminalizes holes in a wall. Both when in use or when being transported or stored, this invention weighs little and maximizes space efficiency.

SUMMARY

This invention is both novel and unobvious, being a devise that improves upon previous inventions by being lightweight, pliable, easily folded or rolled and stored, and uses space efficiently; it displays the face of the stored objects, reduces holes or damage to a wall, and does not protrude into a room.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the front view of the sportsboard hanging sling rack.

FIG. 2 shows the back view of the sportsboard hanging sling rack.

FIG. 3 shows the left side view of the sportsboard hanging sling rack.

FIG. 4 shows the right side view of the sportsboard hanging sling rack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1) Preferred Embodiment FIGS. 1-4

The hanging sling rack is a devise that is designed to store surfboards, skateboards, wakeboards, snowboards, skis, etc., referred to here as sportsboards. It is light, easily folded or rolled, easily stored and transported, maximizes space efficiency, limits time of installation and damage to walls, and does not protrude into a room.

FIG. 1 shows the front view of the preferred embodiment of the hanging sling storage rack 10. It consists of a backing 12 which is made of fabric, roping, or other pliable material. The backing 12 can be less than 3 ft. by 3 ft. and go up in size to create more storage ability. The upper edge of the backing 12 consists of vertical loops 16 which are made of fabric, roping, or other pliable material. A batten 18 made of a rigid material is sized to easily slide through the loops. Wall mount fasteners 20 are sized to securely fit the batten 18. On the backing 12 are secured parallel sleeves 14 which are made of fabric, roping, or other pliable material. The sleeves 14 must be large enough to fit the objects being stored when they are placed in the sleeves horizontally.

FIG. 2 shows the back view of the preferred embodiment of the hanging sling storage rack 10. It shows the backing 12, the sleeves 14, the loops 16, the batten 18, the wall mount fasteners 20, and storage pockets 22.

FIG. 3 shows the left view of the preferred embodiment of the hanging sling storage rack 10. It shows the backing 12, sleeves 14, a loop 16, and storage pockets 22.

FIG. 4 shows the right view of the preferred embodiment of the hanging sling storage rack 10. It shows the backing 12, sleeves 14, a loop 16, and storage pockets 22.

2) Operation of Invention

The hanging sling rack 10 is designed to hang from a wall, cross beam, doorway, rafter, or any other secure horizontal fixture. The loops 16, which are attached to the upper edge of the backing 12, hold the batten 18 which is held to the wall, rafter, etc. by the wall mount fastener 20. The sling rack hangs vertically. Attached and supported by the backing 12 are a series of parallel sleeves 14. The object(s) being stored (surfboard, wakeboard, etc.) is slid into the parallel sleeves 14 and hangs horizontally. The storage pockets 22 store accessories for the objects being stored (for example wax for a surfboard) or any other objects. When the sling rack 10 is not being used, it may be taken down and folded or rolled for compact storage or transport.

3) Description and Operation of Alternative Embodiements

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the sling rack 10 in the shape of a rectangle. It can be manufactured in any shape: square, circle, hexagon, etc without compromising its function or usefulness.

FIGS. 1-4 shows the loops 16 on the upper edge of the backing 12. Additional loops can be placed on the bottom of the backing 12 and attached to the floor or other secure fixture to increase stability.

Loops 16 can be placed on the right and left side of the backing 12 and attached to posts, door jams, or any other vertical secure fixture.

Loops 16 can have the addition of eyeholes, hooks, Velcro or any other method of securing the sling rack 10 to a secure fixture.

The loops 16 can be eliminated and replaced by eyeholes, hooks, Velcro or any other method of securing the sling rack 10.

FIG. 1 shows the sleeves 14 as a solid piece of material. The sleeves 14 can also be manufactured to open and then re-fastened with hooks, buckles, Velcro or any other fastener.

The sleeves 14 can be placed on the backing 12 in order for the sportsboards or any other objects to be stored vertically.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two loops 16. Additional loops, or one long loop can be used.

FIG. 2 shows the storage pockets 22 attached to the back of the sling storage rack 10. They can be placed on the front of the sling storage rack or on the sleeves 14.

FIG. 2 shows the storage pockets 22 permanently attached to the backing 12. They can also be manufactured to be removable, attached by hooks, buckles, Velcro or any other fastener.

Storage pockets 22 can be designed as exterior elements, or as pockets within the backing 12.

FIG. 1 shows the sleeves 14 permanently attached to the backing 12. They can also be manufactured to be removable, attached by hooks, buckles, Velcro, or any other secure fastener.

The number of sleeves 14 can be increased to increase stability for a stored object or to increase the number of objects that can be stored.

FIG. 2 shows storage pockets 22. These can be increased in size or number, or eliminated, without compromising the function or usefulness of the sling rack.

The use of the sling rack 10 is not limited to sportsboards. The size of the backing 12 and or the size of the sleeves 14 can be manufactured to accommodate skis, kayaks or any other object. 

1. A sportsboard storage and display rack comprising a backing of any pliable material which can be folded or rolled, and on the backing's front at least one pair or group of parallel sleeves or one long sleeve of any pliable material which can be folded or rolled.
 2. Said backing of said rack of claim 1 can be of any size.
 3. Said sleeves of claim 1 can be made of any size.
 4. On one or more edges of said backing of claim 1 is one or more loop(s).
 5. Said loop(s) of claim 1 can be made of any pliable or rigid material.
 6. A batten of any length and rigid material which can fit into said loop(s).
 7. Mounting devises for said batten of claim 6 made of any material.
 8. Storage pocket(s) of any pliable material of any size.
 9. Said storage pockets of claim 8 attach to said backing at any place(s) on the backing. 